Propelling and steering boats



(No Model.)

1. DAVID.

PROPELLING AND STEERING BOAT. No. 414,298. Patented Nov. 5, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC DAVID, OF BLADEN, NEBRASKA.

PROPELLING AND STEERING BOA TS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 414,298, dated November5, 1889.

Application filed July 22, 1889- Serial No. 318,283.. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ISAAC DAVID, of Bladen, in the county of \Vebsterand State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Boats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in boats; and it consists in,first, the combina tion of the boat, a vertical flange or extensionwhich projects downward from the bottom of the boat at its front end,the propeller and its operatingshaft, which are journaled in thisflange, suitable operatingwheels, a driving-shaft which projects upthrough a sleeve or tube which projects above the bottom of the boat andis provided with a pinion at its upper end, and an operatingwheel, whichis supported upon the sleeve, and by means of which the propeller isoperated; second, in the arrangement and combination of parts, to bemore fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to place the propeller-wheel in front ofthe central portion of the boat, and to place the rudder directly underthe boat, and to have its post or rod to pass up into the boat at thesame point where the operating-power is applied to the drivingshaft ofthe propeller, so that a person can drive the boat with one hand andsteer with the other.

Figure l is a side elevation of a boat partly in section, and to whichmy invention is applied. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig 3 is an invertedview.

A represents a boat of suitable length and width, and which ispreferably provided with a flat bottom. Extending downward under the bowof the boat is a vertical flange 13, having an opening through it nearits rear end to receive the propeller wheel O, and which flange forms ahearing or support for the'shaft D, to which the propeller-wheel issecured. This flange serves as a means for keeping the boat in astraight line and prevents it from too readily turning to one side orthe other, as it would be liable to do were the flange not used. Therear end of this vertical flange B is preferably braced in position bythe braces F.

Secured to the rear end of the propellershaft D is a pinion G, whichmeshes with the idler-pinion H, which is also journaled upon the rearedge of the flange B, and which idler-pinion meshes with a largedriving-wheel I, which is placed directly under the bottom of the boat.This large wheel I is secured to the tubular driving-shaft J, whichpasses vertically through the sleeve L, which rises from the bottom ofthe boat any suitable distance upward. Secured to the upper end of thetubular shaft J is a pinion N, which meshes with and is operated by thedrivin wheel 0, which has its shaft to pass through the horizontalsleeve or bearing P, which is secured to the upper end of the verticalsup port Q, which is pivoted upon the tubular shaft and between theupper end of the sleeve and the pinion. The shaft of the wheel 0 extendsentirely through the sleeve P, and the projecting end of the shaft isprovided with a bearing R, which rises directly from the bottom of theboat.

The wheel 0 is provided with a crank or handle, by means of which theWheel may be made to revolve, and thus give motion to the other wheelsof the propeller and cause the boat to move either forward or back, asmay be desired.

The rudder S is of any suitable length and width, and has its post T toproject up through the tubular driving-shaft, and to the upper end ofthis post T is secured an operating-lever U, just above the top of thepinion N. This lever U being placed by the side of the wheel 0, theoperator, sitting upon one of the seats of the boat, has only to turnthe wheel with one hand and operate the lever U with the other, and hecan drive the boat either forward or back and steer at the same time.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of theboat, the flange B, secured under its front end, the propeller C andshaft D, journaled in or upon this flange, the wheels G H I, theoperating-shaft provided with a pinion upon its upper end,

and the driving-wheel O, substantially as shown.

2. The combination, with a boat having an 5 opening in its bottom and avertical sleeve,

of the propeller, a hollow operating-shaft which passes through thesleeve, a horizontal operatinggear secured to the hollow shaft below thebottom of the boat, a rudder-post IO which passes through the saidhollow shaft, a

handle attached to the upper end of the post, and a rudder to its lowerend, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' ISAAC DAVID. Witnesses:

H. PERSON, W. D. HALL.

